A decade had passed since I had risen to my current position. Ten years. In the grand scheme of things, it was nothing more than a fleeting moment, yet for me, it felt like an eternity. The world I lived in, the one I fought to protect, seemed to grow more exhausting with each passing year. It wasn't just the violence or the constant scheming that wore me down, though they certainly didn't help. No, it was the weight of it all—the endless fight against an enemy I couldn't even begin to comprehend, the Calamity that loomed ever closer, unseen but inevitably coming. But I pushed forward. I had no other choice.
Today marked a significant change. Today, I was officially taking over the mantle of clan patriarch from my father, Fei Long. The Long Clan was a powerful force, with two master-ranked individuals now—my father, a man who was steadfast and proud, and me, a man who had surpassed him in strength. Master rank was what defined us, what gave us the power to intimidate, to secure our future. But as I stepped into my father's shoes, I realized something. I had a different vision for the clan than what they expected. They wanted stability, security, a continuation of the status quo. But I had plans that extended beyond that, beyond this clan. I wanted to expand. I wanted power. I wanted to prepare for the Calamity.
The first step was to conquer the Mu Clan. The Mu Clan was close by and, like us, held a powerful position. They specialized in wood, an element that would prove to be of little use against me. I was a natural counter to them, and with my power, I could crush them. But it wasn't going to be as simple as just marching in and claiming their lands. No, I had to convince my clan, and my father in particular, that this was the right path.
When I told my father, he didn't immediately agree. Of course, he didn't. The old man was cautious, a man of tradition. He believed in stability, in the old ways. But I wasn't here to play by the rules. I showed him what I had become—a peak master-ranked being. I demonstrated my power, and that was enough to silence any objections. My father may have disagreed, but he could see the inevitability of it. He understood that I was no longer the son who had followed in his footsteps. I was someone who was going to carve my own path. And that path would lead to the unification of the clans.
One demonstration of my strength shut him up pretty quickly. Nothing screams "persuasion" like your father eating dirt from a lightning strike.I painted them all a grand vision—unified clans, a throne among the kingdoms, noble titles. They ate it up. Greed's a universal language, after all. The Long Clan wasn't just a clan—it was an army. And as we gathered, one thousand strong, to march to the Mu Clan, I could feel the weight of the moment. This wasn't just about taking land. This was about making a statement. I wasn't just a clan patriarch. I was becoming something greater. The Barbarian King, as they would soon call me.When we arrived, the Mu Clan leader—a wiry man named Tai Mu—had the audacity to lecture me about "reckless ambition" and "youthful arrogance." I could've just zapped him on the spot, but I needed him alive for the calamity. So, I did the next best thing—public humiliation.
"Duel me," I said, loud enough for the entire gathering to hear. "Winner takes all."
You could practically see the gears in Tai Mu's head grinding to a halt. Backing down would make him look like a coward in front of his people, so he had no choice but to accept. Tragic, really.
The duel began, and Mu Zhi immediately went on the defensive. He knew, as I did, that his element—wood—was weak against lightning. But what he didn't realize was that I was more than just lightning. I was power incarnate, a fusion of elements that rendered his defenses useless. The moment I moved, I was already in front of him. My {Thunder Step} closed the distance in an instant, and before he could react, I had him in my grip. A mere low-level master-ranked being like him couldn't withstand the speed and force I unleashed.
I could have killed him, but that wouldn't have suited my plans. Instead, I did something worse. I rendered him powerless. I used my life affinity to take control of the wood around him, cutting off his ability to defend himself. His own element turned against him. It was a painful defeat, one he could never recover from.
I stood there, my palm inches from his face, a ball of lightning charging in my hand. "Give up," I told him coldly.
He tried to call upon his wood, to fight back, but it was useless. His ability had been shut down completely. The life element within me had neutralized his power, leaving him completely vulnerable. He had no choice but to submit. The duel was over, and I had won.
But I didn't kill him. Not yet. I had a greater plan in mind. Later, in private, I spoke to him. I offered him a chance to serve me. If he did, I wouldn't mistreat him. I told him that together, the Long Clan and the Mu Clan could conquer the other clans and become the dominant power in the region. He would remain the leader of the Mu Clan, but he would answer to me. And if he helped me, if he played his part, he could even rise to a position of power in the new order I was building. He could be one of my first generals. The power, the prestige—it was all there for the taking.
In the end, his pride was not enough to overcome his ambition. Mu Zhi kneeled before me, calling me Lord Zhu, pledging his loyalty. It was the beginning of a new era for the Long Clan and for me.
As the days passed, the Mu Clan fell in line with my vision.
The Mu Clan's integration went smoother than expected. Tai Mu's warriors, who once looked ready to kill me on sight, now treat me like some sort of messiah. I overheard one of them saying, "Lord Zhu's wisdom is unparalleled. He's clearly seen the future."Yeah, I've "seen the future" all right—it's a flaming pit of chaos, and we're all just trying not to fall in.
Still, if they want to misunderstand me, who am I to stop them? As long as they follow orders and keep the spears pointed at the real enemies, I'll let them believe whatever fairytales they want.
But there was something else, something I couldn't shake. Despite everything, despite the growing power, I was still haunted. The Calamity was coming, and I couldn't stop it. No matter how strong I became, no matter how many people I conquered, it didn't change the truth. The Calamity would come, and it would tear everything apart.
I couldn't afford to think about it. Not yet. I had a role to play, a path to walk, and I couldn't falter now. The power I had gained, the alliances I had forged—they were just the beginning. Soon, the whole world would know the name Zhu Long. And when the Calamity finally came, they would remember who had built the foundation for the future.
For now, I let the clan rejoice, let them celebrate the victories to come. I would show them my strength, my resolve. They would follow me because they had no other choice. They would follow me because I was the Barbarian King, and I was the only one who could lead them through the storm that was coming.